死ぬ時
shinu toki
The English phrase "time to die" is translated into Japanese as 死ぬ時 (shinu toki).
The phrase refers to the specific moment or period in life when a person or an animal is about to pass away.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 死ぬ (shinu), meaning "to die" and the noun 時 (toki), meaning "time" or "moment".
Which one should you use?
死ぬ時 refers to the actual moment of death.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the verb 死ぬ is in its dictionary form to function as an adjective modifying the noun 時.
How do you pronounce it?
shinu toki
Did you know?
- The word 死 (shi), which is the kanji root for death, is a homophone for the number 'four' in Japanese. Because of this, many Japanese people avoid the number four or the sound of 'shi' in certain contexts to avoid bad luck.
- In Japanese, using the verb 死ぬ (shinu) to describe a person's passing can sound unexpectedly blunt or even rude. To show respect, people often substitute it with the more polite 亡くなる (nakunaru), which means 'to pass away'.
- In Buddhist-influenced Japanese contexts, the time of death is often discussed in terms of 往生 (ōjō), which means 'passing to the Pure Land'. This term replaces the idea of 'dying' with the idea of 'departing'.
Examples in context
- くたばれ！Die!
- 死ぬ時が近づいています。Shinu toki ga chikazuite imasu.The time to die is approaching.
- 彼は死ぬ時を静かに待っています。Kare wa shinu toki o shizuka ni matte imasu.He is quietly waiting for his time to die.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about a movie they just watched.
- 陽葵 Himariあの映画の死ぬ時のシーンで泣いちゃった。Ano eiga no shinu toki no shiin de naichatta.I cried during the scene where he was about to die in that movie.
- 健太 Kenta確かに、とても悲しい場面だったね。Tashika ni, totemo kanashii bamen datta ne.True, it was a very sad scene.
- 陽葵 Himari死ぬ時に誰かに会えたらいいなと思う。Shinu toki ni dareka ni aetara ii na to omou.I think it would be nice to see someone at the time of death.
- 健太 Kentaそうだね。愛する人と一緒にいたいよね。Sou da ne. Aisuru hito to issho ni itai yo ne.I agree. You'd want to be with the people you love.
